Merchandise container



May 30, 1944. R. GUYER I 2,350,163

MERCHANDI SE CONTAINER Filed June 18, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l l\ /l I: 31II l 1/6 L17 f5] 70 jgmgg/ @@Wmmw ATTORNEY May 30, 1944. R. GUYERMERCHANDISE CONTAINER v Filed June 18, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 je INVENTORBY QMLMD ATTORNEY May 30, 1944.

R. GUYER MERCHANDISE CONTAINER Filed June 18,' 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ff, e/l/ ha M ATTORNEY Patented May 30, 1944 MERCHANDISE QONTAINERReynolds Guyer, St. Paul, Minn., assignor to Waldorf Paper ProductsCompany, St. Paul, Minn., a corporation of Minnesota Application June18, 1941, Serial No. 398,619

(Cl. 20G-44) 6 Claims.

My invention relates to an improvement in merchandise containers,wherein it is desired to provide a means for stiiening fibrous board torender the same capable of maintaining shape when containing articles ofmerchandise.

Various types of containers have been used for the packing of fragilearticles to be shipped. Corrugated paper board has been commonly usedfor enclosing the articles during transportation. This corrugated paperboard is possessed of considerable stiffness when in its flat state.However, when this board is folded across the corrugations, the rigidityof the board along this line is destroyed. If such material is foldedinto box formation, some means must be provided for locking the variouswalls of the box together, as otherwise the box would unfold along thevarious fold lines. It would be extremely advantageous if two sectionsof corrugated paper board, connected along a fold `line intersecting thecorrugations, would maintain a set relationship. The packing ofmerchandise could then be greatly simplified.

The object of the present invention is to provide a stiifening meanswithin the fibrous board which will resist folding of the board at thefold lines. With such an arrangement, no locking tongues, fasteningmeans, or binding devices are necessary to hold the folded sections indesired angularity. As a result, merchandise may simply be placed in asupport such as a channel shaped tray, and the upper edges of thechannel folded partially over the merchandise, holding the same rmlywrapped. At the same time, such channels may be open throughout a majorportion of the area of the top, permiting the display of the goodspacked. V

It is an object of the present invention to provide` a means ofstiffening the lines of fold of fibrous board containers, so as tothoroughly protect the merchandise and at the same time to leave themerchandise openly visible for display. As a result, the goods mayremain in packed condition until sold to a customer. Two advantagesexist in such a construction. In the first place, it is not necessaryfor the store owner to remove the goods from their original packing fordisplay purposes. In the second place, it is not necessary for the storeowner to pack the merchandise for delivery to the customer. Both ofthese advantages means the saving of time and money to the merchandiser.

AAn extremely important features of the present invention lies in theease with which merchandise containers lmay be manufactured andassembled. In the formation of the containers, it

is only necessary to blank out the container body to the desired shape,and with the fold lines properly scored; and to subsequently insertbetween the corrugations a ductile or malleable stiffening means so asto extend on both sides of the lines of fold. In the assembling of thecontainers, it is only necessary to bend the sections of the containeralong the fold lines. The ductile stiffening means will bend to assumethe proper folded shape. However, when once bent, the sections of thecontainer will remain in the same angular relationship until sufficientforce is exerted to change the angle of bend of the ductile stiffener.The sections are then sustained without the use of separate fasteningmeans.

A feature of the present invention resides in the fact that the ductilestiffening means may, if desired, project from the ends of the containersections through whichit extends, providing a means of holding orsupporting elements of merchandise contained. As Va result, thestiffening means may form not only a means for holding the foldedsections of the container in the desired relationship, but also anattaching means for holding the merchandise in set relationship withrespect to the container.

These and other objects and novel features of my invention will be moreclearly and fully set forth in the following specification and claims.

In the drawings forming a part of my specification:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of adisplay container enclosingmerchandise to be shipped and displayed. l

Figure 2 is a plan view showing the died-out formation of one of thesections of the enclosing container.

Figure 3 is a plan view. showing the died-out formation of the othersection of the enclosing container.

corrugated paper board and the stiffening mem-` ber enclosed therein. I

Figure 9 is a perspective View of a modified form of support, anddisplay container used in conjunction therewith.

Figure l is a perspective view of the merchandise support illustrated inFigure 9, with themerchandise removed therefrom.

Figure 1l is a plan View of the died-out formation of the merchandisesupport illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure l2 is across-sectional View through the corrugated paper boardand the stiifening element embodied therein.

My invention is applicable to a great number of diierent specific formsof construction; and for this reason the embodiments illustrated areonly indicative of the manner o'f carrying out the invention. Thespeciiic shapeand 'form of the container must to some degree bedependent upon the typek of goods to be shipped and displayed.

he display container A, illustrated in .Figures l, 2, and 3 of thedrawings, is designed to "accommod'ate-fragile goodssuc'h as theso-called hurricane lamps B. The container A as illustrated comprises abase i il, and a pair of end walls I l and I2, secured to the base il)along the fold lines I3 and M, respectively. The end walls II and I2airegenerallyrectangular in shape, and comprise two sections connectedalong a fold line. The end'walll l comprises alower section I5 connectedto the base t@ along the fold line vI 3, and connected .toithe:upper/section lIS-along the `diagonal fold line I7. The end .wall I2.comprises a lower section I9 connected along Vthe fold line I 4 to thebase, and connected to the upper section :along the diagonalfoldlline*2l The upper end wall sections I and 2i) may foldout ffrom the endwalls as seen in Figure l1,-to betterdisplay the merchandise.

As best illustrated in Figure 2 of the drawings, a ydu'ctile ,orAmalleable'stiifening means, in the form 'of `a Wire rod `22, extendsbetween corrugations of the `board yfrom which the container is formed,extendingthrough the fold lines I3', I4, Il, and -2I. The'smanner inwhich the stiifening -means `Mais-:positioned is best illustrated inFigure 8 of the drawings. The board from which the container A is formedcomprises a pair of spaced jpara'llel covering sheets 23 and 24, with a-corrugated webz yconnecting the 4vsame and connected alongthe ridgesoff rthe-corrugations to thesheets'23 and 24. spaced-parallel passagesare thus formed 'by the web 25, through which the wire 221may; extend.

A second*containersection is sho-wn in vFigure 3 of the drawings. Thissection comprises a container jrear 'panel V.26, connected .along the'fold line Z'Ito the container top 29. The top 29 is connected along thefold line 3l) to the container frontwall 3|. Thetop 29 is formed of adisplay panel `section '32, which is separated from the rear supportingportion 33 by a substantially U- shapedlline0f1separation'3'4. Foldlines T35 connect 'thedisplay panel section 32 withthe rear supportingsection 33, so that the display panel section may be erected into gthedisplay position illustrated'in Figure' l of the drawings, or the entiretop panel f2s may extend in a common plane.1 y y f A `pair ofy.stiiening wires 36 are inserted -between the corrugations of `the Vwebconnecting thecovering sheets of the corrugated board, as illustrated-inFigure 8. These ductile or malleable -Wires35 extend through-thefoldlines 2l, 3U, and 35. -'I'liusvv'hen this section is folded into thedisplay position illustrated,lthe parts are-held in proper relationshipby these stiffening elements 36. The rear panel 26 is taped or otherwisesecured to the end walls II and I2, and to the base IE), in theassembled container.

The hurricane lamps B are individually contained in supports C designedto protect the lamps and to hold the same in proper relationship. Thehurricane lamps B comprise a dishlike holder 31, designed to support acandle 39, and also a lamp chimney 40. As both the lamp chimney and theholder are formed of fragile material, it is necessary to hold theseelements in spaced relation, and also spaced from similar elements ofother lamps B.

The supports C comprise a base 4I formed of corrugated paper board,connected along fold lines 42 to side walls 43, which, in turn, areconnected to the anges 44 along the fold lines 45. The corrugations ofthe connecting web within the corrugated board extend at substantiallyright angles to the fold lines 42 and 45, so that these fold linesintersect the corrugations. A ductile or malleable stilening element 4textends longitudinally of the web corrugations, and the ends 41 ofthestiffening element project beyond the ends of the flanges 44, as bestillustrated in Figures w5 and 7 ofthe drawings.

The supports C are formedinto the shape illustrated vin Figure 5 ofthevdrawings, the base 4I and side Walls43 forming a channel-shapedtray,

Vand the Vflanges 44 extending inwardly -from the side walls 443,lextending substantially :parallel to the base 4I. The projecting ends4l ofthe stiffening element 4.5 are bent upwardly, and are outwardlykinked at49, to engage the inner Wallsof the lamp chimney which .issubsequently supported thereby.

yA 'disc having a central aperture 5I and op- `positely disposed notches52 is applied over the anges 44, thernotches Q52 straddlingtheupstanding wire ends 4l. A pair ofvopposed ears 53are bent'up lfromthe body vof the disc 5i) to engage Within the 'lamp'chimney 40 to holdthe same centered. The dish-shaped holder 3l rests upon the support base4I. The candle 3Q extends through the aperture V5I in thedisc 5I), andjis supported `by the holder 31; the disc 5S thusacting through ther,candle 39 to -hold lthe holder 31 in place. Thelamp chimney -40 issupported by the disc 5U, anjd held upright and centered bythe ears 5,3,and :isgfrictionallyengaged by the ends 41 of the lstiiening element,the-kinks 49 engaging -in ,the outwardly bulged portion 54 of thechimney'40.

In packingfthe lamps Bin'the container A, the supports C of alternatelamps are turnedat right anglesso that inthenished container the holders3lv are all vconnedwithin f our upstanding walls arranged in asquare.Thus, during transportationfthe holders :Blofthe lamps B cannot move outof proper position.

In Figuresg through 12 ofthe drawings, I disclose a moded :form ofconstruction of container. In this form, the outerpacking container Disin thegeneral'formfof abox .of rectangular shape, including a base(notshown), afront wall 55, a rear wall V5B, land opposed side walls 5l.Short cover iiaps 59 aresecuredalong fold lines 60 .to thesideWalls-.51. VA top panel 6| is connected along'theifold line62to thefrontWall 55, and a rear panel 58 is secured V.to `the rear Wall alongthefold line-63. If desired-a ductile lstiifenin'g :element 164 fmay `be`embedded within .the -rear ipanel 156, extending -on -both sidesA of`self'sustaining. j .Custardcups E are shown as the specific merthe foldline.63 so as toV make this rear panel chandise packed within thecontainer D; and thesegifragilecups are vheld in proper relation by ,amerchandise support F. This merchandise supportlactstto hold the cupsspaced, and holds them contained in units, each supporting four cups.: v

The supports F comprise a base 65 having apertures 65 through which thetapered walls of the cups 1E may extend and engage. These aperturesareofsuch .a size as to hold the mouths of the cups spaced well above thebase B5; but suiicient of the cup extends through theaperturesto.securely hold thecups in fixed relation.

.Connected along fold lines 61 tothe base 65, I

lprovide side walls 69. These side walls extend `upwardly from the baseS5 at substantially right 'anglesfv thereto; and combine with the baseto form-.a channel-shaped tray. Spaced flanges 1i) aresecuredto theupper edge of the side walls 6,9 along fold lines 1 i. Each of theflanges 1li` engages the top surface .of two adjacent `cups E, to holdthese cups in place upon the base 65. Opposedpairs ofthe flanges engagethe cups. Arcuate notches 12 are formed in the flanges 10 so that theseflanges engage or overlie the rims of the cups, but do not conceal theinterior portion of the cups.

Ductile or malleable stiening elements 13 extend through the flanges 1,side walls 69, and base 65 of the supports F to stiften the fold linesin the corrugated paper board supports. The fold lines B1 and 1I extendtransversely of the direction of the corrugations, and accordingly thestiffness of the board is destroyed along the line of fold. The bendablewires 13 are inserted between the corrugations of the web within theboard, as best illustrated in Figure l2 of the drawings, this corrugatedweb being indicated by the numeral 14, and the covering sheets beingdesignated by the numerals 15 and 16.

Obviously, the corrugated paper board will not remain in any setposition along the lines oi' fold unless stiffened by some such means asis provided by the applicant. However, with such a stiifening element inplace, the flanges 10 act to hold the cups El in position, and the fourcups mounted on each base 65 may be handled as a unit. As the materialforming the stiffening elements such as 13 is ductile and malleable, it

will retain the shape into which it is manually set, and resists bendingalong any of the fold lines through which it extends.

When the container D is opened into display position, it is desirable tohold the cups E prominently displayed. To accomplish this end, I provideapertures 11 in the front display panel 6l, which apertures registerwith the apertures E6 in the base 65 of the support F. The lower ends ofthe cups E which project below the base 65 engage in these apertures, sothat the base 65 may rest directly upon the inclined panel El ininclined display position.

The simplicity of assembly of such containers makes them extremelydesirable for use in holding merchandise while it is shipped anddisplayed. To hold the merchandise in position, it is only necessary tofold the supporting tray in position to enclose the same sufficiently toprevent removal of the same. The stiffening element prevents theunfolding of the tray out of this engaging position.

In constructing the merchandise container the blanks are out out in theproper form and the fold lines scored or creased into the blanks. Thisscoring orY creasing at the fold lines acts to bend thecorrugations soas to destroy the stiffnessI of the board along the line of fold. Aftercreasing, the stiffening wires are inserted to extend through the linesof fold,.to reinforce the fold lines. 1 In accordance with the patentstatutes, I have described the principles of .construction and operationof my merchandise container, and while I have endeavored to set forththe best embodiments thereof, I desire tohave it understood that theseareonly illustrative of a means of carrying out my invention, and thatobvious changes maybe made within the scope of the `following claimswithout departing from the spirit of my invention.

v1. A merchandise packing support comprising a base, and a retainingflap means foldably secured thereto along a fold line and designed toengage an article of merchandise upon said base, said base and iiapmeans being formed of a sheet of corrugated paper board comprising apair of spaced parallel covering sheets and a connecting corrugated webforming passages through the board, and a ductile stiifening elementextending within one of said passages beyond the line of fold to renderthe board resistant to bending at the fold line, said ductile elementprojecting from the flap means to engage the article of merchandise tohold the article in xed relation to said base.

2. A merchandising packing support comprising a base, opposed flap meansfoldably secured to said base along fold lines, said base and flap meansbeing formed of corrugated paper board comprising a pair' of parallelspaced covering sheets connected by a corrugated web, providing passagesthrough the board between the corrugations, and a ductile stiffeningmeans extending through one of said passages and extending Y beyond theends of said flap means, the corrugations of said board extending acrossthe lines oi' fold, the ends of said ductile means being v exposed forengagement with an article of merchandise to hold the article in xedrelation to said base.

3. A merchandise packing support in combination with an article ofmerchandise comprising a channel-shaped tray having a base and foldablyconnected side walls of corrugated paper board, the article engagingsaid base be tween said side walls, the corrugations of the paper boardextending transversely of the channel and forming passages through theboard intersecting the fold lines connecting said base to said sidewalls, anges foldably connected to the free edges of said side walls andfoldable into opposed spaced relationship to engage 0pposite portions ofthe article engaging said base, and a ductile stiffening elementextending through one of said passages and extending on both sides ofsaid fold lines, said ductile stiifening element holding said flanges inengagement with opposite sides of said article of merchandise to holdsaid article against said base.

4. A merchandise packing support in combination with an article ofmerchandise, comprising a channel-shaped tray having a base and foldablyconnected side walls, flanges foldably connected to the upperextremities of said side walls, said article engaging against the base,said flanges `engaging r'spaced marginal edges of said article .to holdsaid article in engagement with :said hase, ,said packing support beingformed of a singleslieet of corrugated .paper board, the cor-`rnga'tions of which extend ltransverselyfiof the .channel to formpassages through the flanges, side walls, channel base, and a ductilestiffening element extending through .one of said passages and extendingon both sides of the line .of fold, :said -diictile stiffening elementholding said Iianges firmly Aagainst the upper extremity of thearticleof merchandise to clamp the vsame ragainst said base.

.5. .A merchandise packing 4support in combination with an article V.ofmerchandise, comprising a channeis`naped tray .having a .base andfolclably ,connected side Walls, yopposite spaced flanges on said .sideWalls foldable substantially into alignment and being maintained inspaced Irelationship, said channel shaped tray and lflanges being formedof a lsingle piece of corrugated paper board, the corrugations .of whichextend transversely of the channel to provide passages through the boardintersecting the fold `lines thereof, and ductile stiiening elementextending through one of said passages provided on 4both ,sides of .eachof the lines Vof fold in .said corrugated paper board, saidstiffeningielemen't acting to .hold said article .against `said base,means on .said ibase 4for Vhold-ing the .article .of merchandise fromlateral movement in any direction, vsaid flanges engaging over opposed`'edges of l'said article of Ymerchandise Ito hold the same frommovement away from said base.

6. A merchandise packing support in combination with .an articLe ofmerchandise, comprising .a base, aps foldabiy connected to rsaid Vbasealong substantially .parallel fold lines, said Ylaps `engaging overopposed marginal portions of the article of merchandise .and beingarranged in spaced relationshipto display the .article of merchandisebetween said Aflaps, said .base and Aflaps .being Vformedof a singlesheet of corrugated A.boa-rd having the corrugations thereofintersecting said fold lines Aat substantially right angles, and a.ductile stiiening element in one of .said corrugations extending onboth sides of both of said Afold lines to hold said aps clamped againstsaid article of merchandise to hold the article of merchandise againstsaid base.

REYNOLDS GUYER.

